Psycho Buildings: Artists Take on Architecture

As the highlight of the Hayward’s 40th anniversary season, ten artists from around the world transform the entire gallery in Psycho Buildings: Artists Take on Architecture, running from 28 May - 25 August 2008.

The Hayward’s huge spaces are filled with artist-designed architectural environments, which spill onto the three outdoor sculpture terraces, radically altering the interior and exterior of the gallery. Inside a village made from 250 doll’s houses and a room frozen in a moment of explosive disaster are amongst the installations that both enchant and disconcert visitors. Outside on the gallery’s sculpture terraces, installations include a huge iridescent observatory and a working cinema will alter the exterior face of The Hayward.

The ten artists are: Atelier Bow-Wow (Japan), Michael Beutler (Germany), Los Carpinteros (Cuba),Gelitin (Austria), Mike Nelson (UK), Ernesto Neto (Brazil), Tobias Putrih (Slovenia), Tomas Saraceno (Argentina), Do Ho Suh (Korea), Rachel Whiteread (UK).

Borrowing its title from a book by the artist Martin Kippenberger, the exhibition brings together the work of artists who create habitat-like structures and architectural spaces that are mental and perceptual spaces as much as physical ones. The exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in a series of ten atmospheric, enthralling and unsettling installations. Combining architectural and artistic design with the use of light, colour and smell to trigger responses, these dynamic constructions actively encourage viewers to become adventurous participants.

Ralph Rugoff, Director of The Hayward and curator of exhibition “This ambitious exhibition takes the unique architecture of The Hayward as its starting point. The gallery's 'brutalist' concrete exterior and the sculptural quality of its spaces have always proved an inspiration for artists. The extraordinary international artistic response to Psycho Buildings shows just how challenging, exciting and playful the The Hayward can be. It is a fitting way to celebrate our 40th birthday.”

The exhibition is curated by Ralph Rugoff, Director of The Hayward, in collaboration with the artists. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue produced by Hayward Publishing.

The exhibition is supported by Henry Moore Foundation and Outset Contemporary Art Fund.

Psycho Buildings: Artists Take on Architecture
Kurator: Ralph Rugoff

Künstler: Atelier Bow-Wow , Michael Beutler, Los Carpinteros , gelitin , Mike Nelson, Ernesto Neto, Tobias Putrih, Tomas Saraceno, Do-Ho Suh, Rachel Whiteread